A recent audit of the finances of one Schuyler County township found that employee compensation was not always authorized, accurate, and supported.
The objective of the audit conducted by the Office of the New York State Comptroller was to determine whether Town of Hector employee compensation was authorized, accurate, and supported.
Of the 53 records reviewed of town of Hector employees, the State Comptroller’s Office found that town officials had paid 10 employees $150,155 that was not authorized by the board. The audit also found the town inaccurately accrued and recorded leave time totaling just over 1,800 hours valued at $38,586 for 20 of 23 eligible employees. An employee was also paid $5,271 for a separation payment that was not approved by the board.
Post-audit, the Comptroller’s Office made the following recommendations to the town:
- Annually establish and approve employee salaries or pay rates by position and/or employee name, and adopt resolutions for any employee salary or pay rate change that occurs during each year.
- Ensure that employees accrue and use leave time according to the employee handbook or highway contract.
- Adequately certify the Town’s payroll by reviewing and comparing payroll reports to supporting source documentation.
According to the state Comptroller’s Office, Hector Town officials generally agreed with the recommendations and have initiated or indicated they planned to initiate corrective action. The full report can be read below:
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